Books on Zionism and Israel: Suggested Readings

Arthur Hertzberg, The Zionist Idea: A Historical Analysis and Reader (New York, 1997) - a collection of different Zionist thinkers, a bit heavy for first timers but my favorite book on Zionism.

Walter Lacqueur, A History of Zionism (New York, 1997) -a straightforward, if somewhat long, look at the history of Zionism Shlomo Avineri, The Making of Modern Zionism: The Intellectual Origins of the Jewish State (New York, 1981) - a shorter and more readable series of profiles.

Alex Singer, Alex: Building a Life - the Story of an American Who Fell Defending Israel (New York, Jerusalem, 1996) - an inspiring story of a young man who lived the Zionist dream.

Yossi Beilin, His Brother's Keeper: Israel and Diaspora Jewry in the Twenty-First Century (New York , 2000) - a secular, dovish Israeli politician offers his reading of modern Zionism and its relevance.

Yoram Hazony, The Jewish State: the Struggle for Israel's Soul (New York, 2001) - a counter to Beilin, offering a passionate denunciation of post-Zionism and Israeli ideological decadence from the right.

JEWISH HISTORY

The Bible - the all-time, best-selling classic - try reading it cover to cover - great stories your Hebrew school teachers skipped over, and the best possible grounding.

Haim H. Ben-Sasson, ed. A History of the Jewish People ( Cambridge , 1976) - authoritative, but more encyclopedic than readable.

Howard Morley Sachar, The Course of Modern Jewish History (New York, 1990) - an excellent overview of what shaped the modern world.

Mendes-Flohr, Paul R. and Jehuda Reinharz, eds., The Jew in the Modern World: A Documentary History (New York, 1980) - an amazing collection of documents.

ISRAEL

Howard Morley Sachar, A History of Israel: from the Rise of Zionism to our Time (NewYork, 1996) -very thorough overview.

James Michener, The Source (New York, 1992) - don't be put off by its size. This is the classic first-trip-to-Israel historical novel, following the sweep of Israeli and Jewish history through the various layers of one archaeological dig.